Improvement in scythe-snaths



P; FROST.

Scythe Snath.

Patented April 8, 1862i UNITEDY STATES PINCKNEY FROST, OF S PATENT OFFICE.

PRINGFIELD, VERMONT.

IMPROVEM ENT IN SCYTHE-SNATHS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PINGKNEY FRosr, of Springtield, in the county ot' Windsor and State of Vermont, have invented a new and Improved mode ot' Attaching Scythes to Snaths; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this speciv iication, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal section of my invention, taken inthe line a: x, Fig. 3; Fig. 2, a transverse section of the same, taken in the line y y, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an external view of the saine.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The object of this invention is to attach a Scythe to a snath in such a manner that it will be capable of being adjusted in various positions to suit the operator and as circumstances may require-such, for instance, as havingits end secured more or less inward toward the outer end of the snath, and also more or less upward in a vertical direction, as well as having its edge its entire length adjusted more or less upward, so that it will be more or less inclined in its transverse section, the parts being so arranged that the scythe will be tirmly secured to the snath when adjusted in any of the above-mentioned positions.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents the butt of a scythe-snath-the end to which the scythe is attachedand B is a metal socket or band, which is fitted on the butt A, and is firmly secured thereto by a bolt, a. The socket B approximates to a semi-cylindrical form corresponding to the semi-cylindrical form of the butt A, given it by chamfering one side to a plane surface, as shown at a". Thesocket extendsentirelyaround thebutt,and

' its Hat side bis grooved,or provided with a longitudinal recess, c, the use ofwhich will be presently explained. The band or socket B has a semicircular or staple-shaped projection, C, attached at its flat side b, said projection extend-v ing over the dat side b, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, and in the center ot' the projection C there is titted or placed a screw, D, having a recess, c, in its outer end to receive the end of a key or wrench, by which the screw is turned when necessary.

In the back part of the chamferwaX ot' the butt A there is made an oblique recess, d, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. This recess extends nearly across the chainfer, and in it there is fitted a metal plate, E, which is perforated with two holes,e e, near its front end. The back part ot' the plate E has an oblong slot,j', made in it, through which a screw-bolt, F, passes. This boltI also passes through the butt A, and has a recess, g, made in its head to receive a key or wrench. The end ot' said bolt which passes through the plateE has a nut, h, upon it, and said nut is provided at one end with a lip, i, which is fitted in a recess,j, in the butt A, adjoining the recess d, (see Fig; 1,) said lip preventing the nut from turning when the bolt is turned, and the bolt and nut securing the plate E in proper position.

G represents a key or wedge, which may be ot' leather. This key or wed ge is slotted longitudinally, as shown at k, said slot, when the key or wedge is adjusted in proper position, being directly over the slot or recess c in the dat side b ofthe socket B, and also over alougitudinal slot, kx, in the charnt'er a* of the butt A.

H represents the end or tang of the Scythe. This tang passes underneath the projection C, and it is provided, as usual, with a. lip, Z, which is tted in either of the holes c e in the plate E. The tang H reststlatwise on the key or wedge G, and the screw D is turned down so as to bear firmly on the tang. (See Fig.1.) By this means the scythe is firmly secured to the snatb. The point of the scythe may be adjusted farther in or out, according to which of the two holes e e it is placed in, and this adjustment may be graduated with extreme nicetv by adjusting the plate E in the oblique slot d, which may be done by unscrewing the screw or bolt F, the slotf admitting of such adjustmentof the plate. The end ofthe scythe may also be adjusted more or less upward by chamfering the key or wedge G at either side, as may be required, and the edge ofthe scythe may also be adjusted more or less upward by having keys or wedges ot' different degrees of taper. ln consequence of having the plateE titted in an oblique slot, d, the plate is prevented from casually moving, as the plate, in moving, would havea tendency to draw the tang H longitudina-lly, and that is prevented by the screw D, which bears against the tang H. The key or wedge Gis slotted, and the dat side b'of the socket B, as well as the chamfer a* of the butt A, are grooved to admit of the lipl of the tang H passing through the projection C. The arrangement is extremely simple, and not only insures the Scythe being secured to the butt A in any of the positions described, but also ad mits of scythes of ordinary construction being secured to the snath, the invention not requiring that scythes should be made especially for it.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The arrangement of the slotted adjustable wedge G, screw D, and movable plate E, having;` perforations of the peculiar form shown,

with the socket B, tang H,^bo1t F, and butt Witnesses:

HENRY BARNARD, P. MASON FROST. 

